Loss and Redemption at St Vith: The 7th Armored Division in the Battle of the Bulge - Part 2

[@tonetriv]

Paul's early comment about logistics also made me stand up and smile, while watching. I was a supply chain professional for 35 years before I retired, and this and Paul's other episodes about the impact and influence of logistics and supply on decisions made by Montgomery and Eisenhower in the summer of 1944 have become part of my consulting and education material for consulting clients now.

[@tonetriv]

Greg's discussion on mobility fuels my growing interest and admiration for the tank destroyers. No need to add on to Greg's points, but all his references to other authors are a rich vein of gold on this topic of mobility vs. armor. Thoroughly enjoyed this.

[@davidlavigne207]

I could listen to Greg Fontenot all day. He is a great historian and a good story teller as well. He is a fine example of one of the best type of officers that the U.S. Army can produce. He really understands the way that U.S. armored doctrine developed in WW2.

[@bramharms72]

As the great philosopher The Mighty Jingles says: "Fair fights are for suckers." Fantastic presentations, both of them. Greg has been a revaluation. Supremely knowledable, witty and fair minded.

[@bramharms72]

*revelation

[@David-vi4ne]

The village I live in has a memorial of the 7th. 52 members of that division died during the defense of Ospel in the Netherlands in October 44.

[@sobobwas6871]

This guy knows something and critically how to present that knowledge. Top content 👏👏👏👏👏

[@robertoneill2502]

A big thank you to you both, for getting Part 2 online quickly. Really enjoyed both parts of Greg's presentation.

[@conemadam]

My watch is over. My ferociously French mother Ginette has passed. It is because of her that I love this channel so much. There’s never enough to learn, and perhaps now I can catch up.

[@WW2TV]

Sorry about the loss of your mother

[@conemadam]

@ Merci

[@cameronsimpson-ld8nk]

Fascinating content as usual Woody and Gregory.

[@289kcode7]

Thanks for this excellent show.

[@WW2TV]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Of course had to fill in for a last minute sermon this afternoon when this aired but looking forward to watching Greg and Paul as usual.

[@tonyvart7068]

Excellent two parter...thanks guys.

[@michaeldunne338]

I don't know how I missed this, but this was a great part II to the part I - just fantastic content and commentary from Colonel Fontenot.

[@LibTech798]

Excellent presentation. I only subscribed to this channel several months ago, but it's already my favourite WW2 channel. History explored through thoughtful conversation and analysis with great guests, as opposed to the 'meme style' of so many other KZbin history channels. Keep up the great work.

[@WW2TV]

Thanks very much

[@Chiller11]

My favourite quote has to be, “Clarke shelled Born until it was nothing but rubble. Then he went back in there and sorted out the Germans from the masonry.” Once again a stellar episode that contributed significantly to my understanding of the fighting around St Vith and the Battle of the Bulge in general.

[@MarcRacineVT]

This was excellent -- thank you!

[@tonetriv]

This is a delicious episode, Greg and Paul. Will be watching this jewel again and again. Greg used the phrase "compartmented terrain" for this area between the Salm and the Ourthe rivers. This is an outstanding phrase. I spent 6 days before Christmas driving back and forth multiple times between Vielsalm, Baraque Fraiture, Manhay, Samree, Dochamps and La Roche. Parker's fight at Baraque Fraiture, and then the fight by fragments of the 7th Armored supply trains at La Roche and Samree epitomize the initiatives taken by rear echelon support and service troops to stop the 116th Panzer Division and the 560th VG Division with desperate efficiency, and fractured communications and coordination. For chess players, it was like using a few pawns to stop a Queen and Rook attack deep in the chessboard.

[@brianford8493]

Made my afternoon ta chaps ✌️

[@johnlucas8479]

Woody another excellent presentation happy new year

[@billyshakespeare17]

Super show Paul. I have driven tractor trailers (lorries) and farm tractors most of my life. We had engine block heaters, provided there was an outlet available. Some guys used ether in the air intaked, which was hard on the motor. I always wondered how the Russians got their T 34 diesels started in their brutal winters. I have heard about the Russians using compressed air but am not familiar with that practice.

[@patrickwilliams6567]

Slow them down, get out and back on the attack in a month. Sounds like a very credible unit. Enjoyed both parts very much.

[@gavinhealy5899]

My theory with the cold engines was that the tank crew would understand and analysis the the weather conditions and turn the engines on and off through the night for maybe for 40 seconds every 20 minutes or whatever the fail proof warming outcomes achieved , this kept the battery and oil and liquids flowing just enough . My 5 cents worth.

[@MagisterMagnificum]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3KXfaKHrcmhhJo Tiny note: St. Vith also had a very important railway station that had rails going east-west instead of north-south. It was central for the Germans to have a chance of supporting any further penetration. They themselves also knew they would need to capture fuel depots to continue on, which failed to materialize in any scale.

[@cheshirepiper9254]

Brilliant, my Grandad was Patton's 3rd army. Based near me at Oulton park. Any information would be fantastic.

[@papapapa4633]

The 76mm M1A1 gun on the Sherman, and the M-18 Hellcat TD had nothing to do with British development. The only thing the 76mm M1A1 gun had in common with the British 17 Pounder was the bore had the same diameter.

[@papapapa4633]

The Gross Deutschland PzGr Division was in East Prussia. You meant to say the Fuhrer Begleit Brigade.

[@elmersalonga6424]

Thing is Sherman M4's or Allied Tanks are so Underrated, German Tanks are so Overrated!

[@bananabrooks3836]

M4a2 diesel Sherman. General Motors 6046 package. (2 × 2 stroke 6-71 (civvy truck, bus and earthmover engines), each had their own clutch but shared a common driveshaft. M5 Stuart (later model) 2 x Cadillac V8 flathead petrol engines replaced the earlier Radial and made more room inside the tank. I couldn't find anything about the diesel fuel being heated but the Russians(and Brits) used the M4 diesels and the former were said to be happy with them, probably using a ratio of parrafin(kerosene) in low temps. There also appears to be some contention over the U.S. use of the diesel M4 in battles other than the Pacific, so it might be one for the Real experts.